Feb 22, 2025
It’s been 25 days since I surrendered on Wednesday, Jan 29th. I think it’s taken me this long just to be able to feel this comfortable with where I am. I’m not saying that with a negative connotation, just being honest about handling all of this change.
When I was sentenced on Dec 16th in court in Denver, My Core 7 was with me. The Core 7 included my wife, 2 daughters and their partners and my mother in law. Collectively we all decided to be together on that day in court. Our attorney had convinced us we had a good shot at probation or 1 year in prison, but it wasn’t to be. At sentencing, the mastermind of this scheme got 36 months, and the top earner received 22 months. From my understanding, the judge decided that since her reputation would be on the line, she’d match me with 22 months.
When the judge declared “22 months”, I heard her but was in shock. I turned to look at my Core 7, and they were all crying trying to hold it together. This was the worst moment of my life. Notice I didn’t say “worst day in my life”. I say that because I treasured the time I had with my Core 7 in the hotel after sentencing. All of them were incredibly supportive, loving, and told me we all are going to get through this!
At the hotel, what brought us unexpected comedy was the fact that my mother in law took xanax the morning before court as prescribed for when she experiences heightened anxiety, and by the time we got to the hotel after court, she was loopy and answering questions posed to her like 2-3 minutes after she was asked. We laughed a lot and cried a lot, but we did it together.
I’ll never forget my future son in law after the sentencing, while he was upset he said, “What do you want for dinner? Anything you want, you got it!”
So, the next day we flew home. To be continued…
